Montenegro keeps away from the Moneyval’s gray list

Montenegro will not be on the Moneyval’s gray list - it was decided at the session of the Committee of Experts for the Evaluation of Measures to Combat Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism of the Council of Europe.

 The efforts of the Montenegrin delegation led by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, with the exceptional contribution of a team composed of representatives of numerous institutions led by Aleksandar Radović, resulted in today's positive decision by the Committee of Experts for the Evaluation of Measures to Combat Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism of the Council of Europe.

Quick and coordinated action by the Government and the Parliament, along with intensive diplomatic activities, prevented Montenegro from being placed on the gray list of Moneyval. This resulted in avoiding economic repercussions, but also a blow to Montenegro's reputation, which would slow down the expected period of large-scale investments.

I assure you that we will immediately work on fulfilling all FATF recommendations in order to fulfill all criteria to the greatest extent." I will personally monitor the process of fulfilling the recommendations, but also strengthen the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism, the Prime Minister emphasized during his speech in Strasbourg.

Prime Minister Spajić announced that he was waiting for the confirmation of the European Commission in order to adopt the Law on Restrictive Measures. Also, as he pointed out, amendments to the Law on Games of Chance were adopted by the Government, so we expect the Parliament to endorse them by the end of the month.

By the end of January, as he stated, amendments will be prepared for other pieces of legislation, which were marked as partially compliant in Moneyval's reports.

 "This would fully fulfill expectations and in a very short time, remove a heavy burden from the whole of Montenegro," said the Prime Minister.

In addition to the Prime Minister, the Montenegrin delegation included the Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office, Branko Krvavac, the Head of the Montenegrin FIU delegation, Aleksandar Radović, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Ražnatović, representative of the CBCG, Gordana Kalezić, representative of the FIU, Helga Dakić, representative of the Supreme Court, Ksenija Jovićević, Special Public Prosecutor, Jovanka Krunić, and Special Public Prosecutor, Miloš Šoškić.

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić's address at the session of the Committee of Experts for the Evaluation of Measures to Combat Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing of the Council of Europe available here for download.